Q&A WITH Judy Seibenick BSN, MOL

A graduate of Bowling Green State University, Judy Seibenick worked as one of Hospice of Northwest Ohio’s three original nurses. Seibenick has seen the hospice center grow, from her start there in 1980 to her appointment as Executive Director in 2000 to today, a staff of five who cared for about 100 patients during its first year, to a staff of 350 employees and 250 volunteers who cared for more than 2,500 patients in 2016. Seibenick is an active member of the Downtown Toledo Rotary and serves on the board of the Employers’ Association. A recipient of a YWCA Milestone Award in 2009, in 2015 she also received the Touchstone Contributor award from the Press Club. Married to Kurt Seibenick and living in Old Orchard, they have two grown children and three granddaughters. Where do you call home? The beautiful neighborhood, Old Orchard in west Toledo. What was your first job? Lifeguard. What health or lifestyle tips do you support? Healthy eating and only eat when I am hungry. I also believe strongly in maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Your biggest self-indulgence? A monthly massage and my homemade apple pie. Favorite Book? September by Rosamunde Pilcher. I have always wanted to …? Travel the US in an RV and visit all of the national parks. What trait do you admire in others? Integrity, expertise and compassion. Something most people don’t know about you? I swam competitively in college. Words you live by? “Want what you have. Do what you can. Be who you are.” And, also, the poem attributed to Mother Teresa (actually by Kent M. Keith, below). Your proudest accomplishment? Being the Executive Director of Hospice of Northwest Ohio. Person you most respect? Dr. Sharon Erel, founding medical director at Hospice of Northwest Ohio.

BONUS FACTS:

At this time of year, my favorite thing to eat is: Homegrown fruits and vegetables. My theme song: Working in healthcare my theme song has to be “I will survive”. I own a ridiculous number of: pairs of black pants. I still can’t get the hang of: knitting.

“Do It Anyway” By Kent M. Keith (Often attributed to Mother Teresa)

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered; Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway. What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway. The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you’ve got anyway. You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway.

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